Combined door and window



May 12 1953 w. c. wATKlNs 2,638,190

COMBINED nooR AND wINnow Filed May l5, 1950 I E L l 40,

WM/ffm@ Patented May 12, 1953 y.UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ooMBINED Doon AND WINDOW William o. Watkins, Los Angems, Calif.

` Application May 15, 1950, Serial No. 162,052

` (ci. iss- 76) 6 Claims.

My invention relates to the field of combined doors and windows, and is a continuation-impart of my co-pending application, Serial No. `107,172 filed July 28, 1949.

Although the combined door and window disclosed in my coi-pending application has been found to operate satisfactorily, it has the disadvantage that a portion of each mullion used in the device is difcult topaint and service after the glazing of the window has been completed.

The primary purpose of my present invention is to provide a combined door and window having a mullioned construction that will eliminate the above mentioned disadvantage.

A major object of my invention is to supply a mullion for a combined door and window that can readily be painted or serviced after the Window has been glazed.

Another object of my invention is to furnish a mullion having an extremely simple structure,

that can be fabricated from standard commercially available materials, and can be incorporated in my combined door and window at a relatively small increase in cost.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred form thereof, and from the drawing illustrating that form in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my combined door and window;

Figure 2 is ay horizontal cross sectional view of one of the mullions taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l; and

A Figure 3 is a fragmentary exploded perspective View of the mullion and the end portion of one of the sliding panels. i

Referring now to Figure 1 for the general arrangement of my combined door and window, it will be seen that it includes a substantially rectangular framework F having a longitudinally extending head member H, a sill S situ-ated thereunder, and the sill and head member being connected at each end by a vertical side jamb J. Two stationary vertical mullions M that extend from the sill S to the head member H are longitudinally spaced and `situated between the side jambs J.

Two substantially rectangular stationary panes G of glass or other transparent material are supported in the frame F, with each pane being situated in one of the end portions of the frame between one of the jambs J and mullions M. Two longitudinally movable panels P are mounted in the frame F, and due to being glazed, serve the dual function of providing a door to close the space between the mullions M, and serving as windows when so positioned.

`The structureof my present invention is identical in a number` of v.respects to the combined door and window shown in my co-pending application Serial No. 107,172.

The mullions M are similar in cross section but oppositely disposed. Each of the mullions M in.

of L-cross section is provided for each of the mul-` lions M, with the member having the end portion of one of its legs 4| situated adjacent to the leg portion 4t'. The member 4| has a second leg 4|" that extends outwardly therefrom. and is positioned parallel to the ange 39.

Each of the slidable panels P, as may best be seen in Figure 2, has a member 42 that forms the outer vertical end thereof. The member 42 includes a substantially vertical strip 43 having a leg 44 disposed normal thereto on the inner edge thereof. A lip 45 extends inwardly from each of the legs 44, and an inwardly extending hooked member 46 is formed on the outer edge of the member 43. The hooked member 46 includes a short inwardly extending leg 41 that is adapted to be situated adjacent to the leg 4|" when the panel P, of which the hooked member is a part, is in the closed position.

Each of the members 4| and the offset leg portion 40 when it is positioned adjacent thereto are formed with longitudinally spaced tapped bores |48 that are in vertical alignment, with the bores being engaged by screws |49 to removably hold each of the members 4| and leg portions 40 together as an integral unit, as may best be seen in Figures 2 and 3.

It will be noted that with one of the panels Pv being placed in the closed position as shown in Figure 1 that the leg 4|" is engaged by the hooked member 46, with the result that a verr tically extending space |50 of rectangular cross.

section is formed between the forward face of the leg 4| and the rearward face of the leg 41. To prevent the possibility of wind or air passing from the outside to the inside of the building in which my invention is installed, a length of Weather stripping W may be aiiixed to the forward face of the leg 4I. The Weather stripping W is of such a thickness that it fully occupies the space |50 when the panel P is in the closed position as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The operation and installation of my-combination door and window is extremely simple; The frame F and the various component parts making up the finished combination door and window are fabricated by the manufacturer and dispatched to the building in which it will beinstalled. Each of the frames F is installed in the building in accordance with conventional building practice, and the glazing operation oompleted in the frames prior to the building being put in use. The stationary panes of glass G are situated between the jambs J and the mullicns M, with each pane of glass having the bottom edge thereof resting on the upper surface of the sill S, and the upper edge oi glass in contact in a portion of the head member H. The vertical edges of each pane oi glass G are supported by one of the mullions M and one of the jambs J.

Each of the panels P is longitudinally movable within the frame F due to being mounted on rollers as described in detail in my co-pending applicati-on, Serial No. 107,172. Although the painting of my combination door and window can be carried out prior to the glazing operation being performed thereon, it frequently hap- -f pens that the painting is not done until after this operation has been completed. es a result, certain portions of the window as desc ibed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 107,372 are difficult to paint, and this difficulty is eliminated f by my present window construction. In the window disclosed in my fcc-pending application Serial No. 107,172 it was impossible to paint the interior of one of the mullions M after the window had been glazed, but in my present window the mernber 4l may be removed from the supporting mullion M by loosening the screws Mld. Thus, the interior of the mullion is accessible for painting, as well as the interior ci the member di In addition, by removing the member 1li the weather stripping W can be afxed to the forward face of the leg lll" with a minimum of effort when it is found desirable to include weather stripping as a part of the window. 1t will be apparent that after the weather' stripping W has become damaged or worn by use, that the member di may be removed to permit the replacing of weather stripping 'W with new material.

Although the described structure of the mullion M is fully capable of achieving the results and providing the advantages hereinbefore mentioned, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative or the presently preferred form ol my invention, and that do not mean to be limited to the details of construction herein shown and described other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A windowv structure which includes: a substantially rectangular frame comprising a sill and header and first and second vertically disposed end pieces; a horizontally movable panel supported in said frame; a vertically disposed leg mounted on the inner end or" said panel and laterally separated therefrom; an intermediately disposed vertical extending mullion extending between said sill and header to divide said Jtrame into two portions, the first of said portions being open, and the second of said portions normally being closed by a transparent sheet of weatherprotecting material rigidly alixed to said trarne and mullion, said mullion comprising an elongate rlig'd strip that has a supporting lip for said sheet projecting from the intericrly disposed vertical edge thereof in a direction toward said second end piece and a flange from the eXteriorly disposed edge thereof that extends toward said first end piece, with said fdange terminatingV in an inwardly disposed leg that is substantially normal thereto, and said leg formed with a number of vertically spaced tapped bores therein; a vertically disposable elongate member of transverse L-shaped cross section comprised of a first and second leg, said rst leg formed with a number of vertically spaced tapped bores therein that may be aligned with said bores in said v iange-supported leg; a plurality of screws that engage said tapped bores and removably support said vertically'disposable member on said mullion in a weather-protecting position, with said nrst leg and said liange-supported leg in contact vwith one another, and said second leg positioned parallel to said sheet-supporting lip but disposed interiorly therefrom; and weatherstrlpping disposed along one face of said second leg in a position to. be slidably engaged by said panelsupported leg to effect a weather-tight seal when said panel is moved to a position to completely close said open portion of said frame.

2. A window structure which includes: a substantially rectangular frame comprising a sill and header that are joined by first and second vertically disposed end pieces; a roller-supported panel that is horizontally movable in said fra-me; a vertical leg mounted on the inwardly disposed end of said panel and laterally separated therefrom; an intermediately disposed mullion extending between said sill and header that divides. said frame into two portions, the first of said portions of which is open, and the second of said portions normally closed by a pane of weatherprotecting sheet material, said mullion comprising an elongate rigid strip that has a supporting lip for said pane projecting from the interiorly disposed vertical edge thereof and a ilange from the exteriorly disposed edge thereof, with said ila-nge terminating in an inwardly disposed let,r that is substantially normal thereto, and said leg having an off-set interiorly disposed leg portion in which a number of vertically spaced tapped bores are formed; a vertically disposable elongate member formed from a first and second leg disposed normal to one another to provide said member with a transverse L-shaped cross sec.- tion, said iirst leg formed with a number of Vertically spaced tapped bores therein that may be aligned with said bores in said flange-supported leg; a plurality of screws that engage said tapped bores to removably support said elongate member from said off-set leg portion with said second leg positioned parallel to said pane-supporting lip but disposed inwardly therefrom; and weatherstripping disposed on one of the faces of said second leg in a position to be slidably engaged by said panel-supported leg when said panel is moved to a position to completely close said rst portion of said frame.

3. A window structure which includes: a substantially rectangular frame comprising a sill and header that are joined by rst and second vertically disposed end pieces; a roller-supported panel that is horizontally movable in said frame; a vertical leg mounted on the inwardly disposed end of said panel and laterally separated therefrom; a mullion extending between said sill and header that divides said frame into two portions, the irst of which is open, and the second of which is closed by a pane of weather-protecting sheet material, said mullion comprising an elongate rigid strip that has a pane-supporting lip projecting from the interiorly disposed vertical edge thereof in a direction toward said second end piece and a flange from the exteriorly disposed edge thereof that terminates in an inwardly disdisposed leg portion in which a number of vertically spaced tapped bores are formed; a vertically disposable elongate member formed from a iirst and second leg disposed normal to one another to provide said member with a transverse L-shaped cross section, said first leg formed with a number of vertically spaced tapped bores `therein that may be aligned with said bores in said flangesupported leg; and a plurality of screws that engage said tapped bores to removably hold said elongate member on said mullion with said second leg positioned parallel to said pane-supporting lip but disposed inwardly therefrom in such a position that it will interlock with said panelsupported leg to effect a weather-tight seal when said panel is moved to a position to completely close said open iirst portion of said frame.

4. A window frame structure having a horizontally movable panel that includes: a substantially rectangular frame comprising a sill and header that are joined by first and second vertically disposed end pieces; an intermediately disposed mullion extending between said sill and header that divides said frame into two portions, the first of said portions being open, and the second of said portions normally closed by a pane of weather-protecting material, said mullion comprising an elongate rigid strip that has a supporting lip for said pane projecting from the intei'iorly disposed vertical edge thereof in a direction toward said second end piece and a flange from the eirteriorly disposed edge thereoi that extends toward said first end piece, with said flange terminating in an inwardly disposed leg that is substantially normal thereto, and said leg formed with a number of vertically spaced tapped bores therein; a vertically disposable elongate member formed from a rst and second leg disposed normal to one another to provide said member with a transverse L-shaped cross section, said rst leg formed with a number of vertically spaced tapped bores therein that may be aligned with said bores in said ange-supported leg; a plurality of screws that engage said tapped bores to removably support said vertically disposable member on said mullion, with said rst leg and said flange-supported leg in contact with one another, and said second leg positioned parallel to said pane-supporting lip but disposed interiorly therefrom; and weatherstripping disposed along one of the faces of said second leg to be slidably engaged by the inwardly disposed vertical edge of said panel when said panel is moved to a position to completely close said rst open portion of said frame.

5. A window frame structurein which .a horizontally movable panel may be disposed that includes: a substantially rectangular frame that comprises a sill and header joined by a rst and a second vertically disposed end pieces; an intermediately disposed mullion extending between said sill and header that divides said frame into two portions, the first of said portions which is open, and the second of said portions normally closed by a pane of weather-protecting material, said mullion comprising an elongate rigid strip that has a supporting lip for said pane projecting from the interiorly disposed vertical edge thereof in a direction toward said second end piece and a flange from the exteriorly disposed edge thereof that extends toward said first end piece, with said flange terminating in an inwardly disposed leg that is substantially normal thereto, and said leg formed with a number of vertically spaced bores therein; a, vertically disposable elongate member formed from a first and second leg disposed normal to one another to provide said member with a transverse L-shaped cross section, said rlrst leg formed with a number of vertically spaced bores therein that may be aligned with said bores in said flange-supported leg; and a plurality of elongated astening means that removably engage said bores to removably support said vertically` disposable` member on said inullion, with said first leg and said flange-supported leg in contact with one another, and said second leg positioned parallel to said pane-supporting lip but disposed interiorly thereirom to be removably engaged by an inwardly disposed vertical edge portion of said panel to effect a weather-tight seal therewith when said panel occupies a position to completely close said first open portion.

6. A window structure which includes: a su'bstantially rectangular frame formed from a sill and header that are joined by a rst and a second vertically disposed end pieces; a horizontally movable panel supported. in said frame; a vertical leg mounted on the inwardly disposed end of said panel and laterally separated therefrom; an intermediately disposed mullion extending between said sill and header that divides said frame into two portions, the iirst of said portions of which is open, and the second of said portions normally closed by a parie of weather-protecting material, said mullion comprising a transversely disposed elongate rigid strip that has a supporting lip for said pane projecting from the interiorly disposed vertical edge thereof in a direction toward said second end piece and a flange from the exteriorly disposed edge thereof that extends toward said first end piece, with said ilange terminating in an inwardly disposed leg that is substantially normal thereto, `and said leg formed with a number of vertically spaced bores therein; a, vertically disposable elongate member formed form a nrst and second leg disposed normal to one another to provide said member with a transverse L-shaped cross section, said rst leg formed with a number of vertically spaced bores therein that may be aligned with said bores in said flange-supported leg; and elongated threaded means that removably engage said bores to support said vertically disposable member on said mullion, with said first leg and said hangesupported leg in contact with one another, and said second leg positioned parallel to said panesupporting lip but disposed interiorly therefrom in such a position that it will removably interlock with said panel-supported leg to effect a weather-tight seal when said panel is moved to a position to completely close said iirst open portion of said frame.

WILLIAM C. WATKINS.

References Cited in the :tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

